Pipe-joint.



C. FORTH.

PIPE JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 24. I9I3.

Patented May 25, 1915.

A. WASHINUTON. D. I

CHARLESFORTI-I, OF O'JI'TAW'A,` ONTARIO, CANADA.

rIPE-JoI-NT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed November 24, 19'13. Serial No. 802,617.

T0 all whom it may concern l I Be it known that I, CHARLES FORTH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Ottawa, Canada, have inventedcertain new :and useful Improvements in Pipe-Joints, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to eXible pipe joints, more particularly of theball and socket type, the object of the invention being to provide fora` freedom of movement of the parts in all directions while maintaininga fluid tight connection between them.

The invention is designed with particular reference to application totrain pipe systems for air or steam, and has in view the production ofan all-metal joint of simple and durable construction and adapted foruse in place of the comparatively yfrail eX- pensive and unreliablerubber hose terminals now so universally employed in railwa train pipesystems.

The invention consists of various improved features of construction inVpipe joints of the type mentioned, which improved features will be fullyset forth in the specification and the novel parts specified in theclaims. In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an elevation showing asection of piping provided with two joints embodying my invention, oneof the joints being shown in section and the other in elevation. lFigs.2

and 3 are a plan View and a sectional view respectively of the bearingwasher. Figs. 4: and 5 are a plan view and an edge view respectively ofthe spring washer. Figs. 6 and 7 are a side elevation and an edge viewrespectively of the surrounding connecting sleeve. Figs. 8 and 9 are asectional viewV and a plan view respectively of the coniining nut.

Referring to the drawings: My improved vjoint comprises a socket memberl having necting device consists of a sleeve 5 surrounding the twomembers, one end of the sleeve being formed with an inwardly eX-tendingannular flange 6 loosely engaging the bearing surface 3, while atits opposite end the sleeve is provided with an inwardly extendingshoulder 7 in the form of a nut 8 screwed into the sleeve and providedwith holes 9 for the engagement of a wrench for turning it. The ballmember is provided with a peripheralledge l0, and against this ledge isseated a bearing washer ll formed in its edgewith a series of notchesl1t any one of which is adapted to receive a tongue 12 extendinginwardly from the sleeve 5, by means of which the washer may beinterlocked with the sleeve so as to turn therewith.

V13 represents a spring washer in the form of a flat ring of resilientmaterial provided with radial corrugationsA 13a. is formed with lugs 13badapted to enter the ,notches in the bearing washer 11 by which screwedup in the sleeve and caused to bear against the washer, it will becomefrictionally interlocked therewith and be prevented This washer fromaccidentally unscrewing or becoming loosened.

As a result of the construction described it will be observed that thespring washer being placed under tension by the confining nut, will inreacting on the sleeve 5, tend to draw said sleeve longitudinally withreference to the ball member, and the sleeve by engaging the bearingsurface 3 of the socket member will act to draw and hold said member inyielding` engagement with the ball member, while permitting freedom ofmovement of said members relatively to each other in all directions. Byreason of the fact that the bearing washer is interlocked with thesurrounding sleeve, and that the spring washer is interlocked with thebearing washer, and further that the confining nut is interlocked withthe spring washer, said parts are connected so as to form in effect asingle structure which is movable circumferentially relatively to theball member, and in relation to which the socket member may move in alldirections. Further by reason of then fact that the bea-ring washerconnectedwith the connectingsleeve, bears at its inner edge against theledge l0 on the ball member, and` is spring pressed thereagainst by thespring washer, the said connecting sleeve will bey prevented ,fromrocking, or lateral tipping movement relatively to. the ball member, butwill be permitted .freedom of movement circumferentially.

The construction as` a whole is simple in form and effective inoperation in providing a fluid tight connection between the ball: andsocket members, while at the same time permitting of freedom of relativemovement of the parts in all directions; and. by reason of the fact thatthe,r spring washer acts to prevent the accidental loosening of theconfining nut, the parts will be held and main tained in properoperative spring engagef ment, with no liability of the variationl orchange in the spring tension.

In the event of its being desired, inl case of wear, to tighten up theconnecting sleeve to cause the ball and socket membersto maintain properoperative engagement, it

will only be necessary to screw up the confining nut by the applicationthereto of a proper tool, with the result that the roughened surface orcorrugationson tlienut will be forced past the cooperating 'corrugationson the spring washer, and willi take a new position and be yieldinglylockedA in the said. position.

In the foregoingdescription and accompanying drawings I have disclosed'my invention in the particular form and details which I prefer to adopt,and whichV in actual practice has been found to answer the objects to beobtained, but it will be under-- stood that Vthe details may bevariously changed and modifiedl without' departing fromy the limits ofmy invention; and fur ther it will be understood that the invention isnot limited to any particularl form or construction of the parts exceptin so far as such limitations are specified in the claims. Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a vpipe joint the combination of'a vsocketl member formed with anexternalvvv member and operatively interlocked with the connectingdevice to move circumferentially with the same. Y j

2; In a pipel joint, theV combination of a socket. member formed with anexternal bearing surface, a ball member seated therein and rockabletherein universally a sur-` rounding circumferentially movable sleeveformed to looselyy engage the said bearing surface and provided with aninwardly exa tending flat shoulder, an annular fiat washer detachablyinterlockedv with said sleeve and movable circumferentially with thesame versally andv provided with an annular ledge, y

a surrounding circumferentially movable sleeve engaging the curvedbearing surface, an annular washer v interlocked with the vsleeve andengaging the ledge, a spring washer interlocked with the annular washerand provided with corrugations, and a confining nutscrewed in the sleeveand formed curved bearing surface, a ball member seated andf rockableuniversally in the socket member, a surrounding circumferentially,movable sleeve, a springl washer movable circumferentially with the'sleevel and acting on' the balll member, saidwasher having n`a'roughened surface, and a confining nut screwedl inthe sleeve andprovided with a roughenedl shoulderl engaging the roughened` surface ofthe spring washer.

5. 'InA a pipe joint the combination of a i socket member provided withan external curved bearing surface, a ball member seated" in the socketmember and rockable universally, a surroundingv circumferentiallymovable connecting sleeve, a spring'washer Y movable circumferentiallywith the sleeve and acting on the ball member, and a confining nutscrewed in they sleeve Yand yieldingly interlocked with the: washer.

In testimony whereof I have affixed, my signature in presence offtwo'witnesses.

CHARLES FORTH.

Witnesses: Y Y

A.. Groen BLAIR, DARGY` SCOTT.

C'opies ofthispatentmayfbe obtained for iveA centseac-h, byad'dressingtheommissibner ot'atents,

Washington, 1).-0?"

